Bentley was in a bad state at the end of the 20th century. It was a super low-volume manufacturer with a handful of cars that looked just like Rolls-Royces (because they were), but then in the early 2000s,

The new Continental GT Speed drops its quad-circle headlights and the W-12 engine, but it manages to become even more compelling.

Bentley will bring a new Continental GT Speed in both coupe and convertible form to US showrooms early next year. The big news is the new plug-in hybrid drivetrain, making 771 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. That’s 121 hp and 74 lb ft more than the most recent W12. Pricing ain’t cheap: $302,100 for the coupe and $332,200 for the convertible.

Winding through the Swiss Alps, the Continental GT Speed proves to have no Achilles heel. With a newly near-50:50 weight distribution (49:51, to be precise) thanks to the battery mounted behind the rear axle, electronic limited-slip differential, torque vectoring, new twin-valve dampers, and four-wheel steering results in superior handling.

The 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed definitely lives up to its name, but can this hybrid drive train replace the powerful V12 of its forebearers?

The latest Continental GT is the beginning of a new plug-in hybrid era for Bentley. Is it still a benchmark grand tourer?

The new Bentley Continental GT becomes the company's most powerful road car of all time thanks to a plug-in hybrid V-8; it can also travel at speeds of up to 87 mph in its full-EV mode. They're so soft, you won't want to take them off, fans say: 'They hug my body in all the right places.'

Bentley’s new plug-in powertrain is a perfect match for the bruising Continental GT Speed, creating the most compelling grand tourer on the market

Celebrating its 21st birthday, the Bentley Continental GT has just entered its fourth generation – and the big news is that the flagship Speed model is no longer powered by Bentley’s formidable W12 engine.